Retrobottega

The Best Restaurants In Adams Morgan

"If your Italian needs are a little fancier, hit up Retrobottega. Cozy up in the restaurant’s snug dining nook where you can impress your date with front-row seats into the open kitchen. And if you really want to show off, order the charred octopus as an appetizer—it’s got this incredible smoky flavor—and the oxtail lasagna because it’s oxtail lasagna (and also really good)." - omnia saed, mekita rivas

The 12 Best Italian Restaurants In DC 2024

"Adams Morgan has a number of good Italian restaurants, but Retrobottega is the best. Cozy up in the restaurant’s snug dining nook where you can impress your date with front-row seats into the open kitchen. And if you really want to show off, order the charred octopus as an appetizer—it’s got this incredible smoky flavor—and the oxtail lasagna because it’s oxtail lasagna (and also really good). That way, even if your date turns out to be a bit of a dud, at least you've scored yourself a fabulous meal. We call that self-love. " - omnia saed

Retrobottega Review - Adams Morgan - Washington DC - The Infatuation

14 Negronis to Knock Back Right Now in D.C. - Eater DC

"When the days get hot, this Italian small plates bar is ready to cool off Adams Morgan crowds with a negroni slushee, blended with gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and grapefruit juice." - Travis Mitchell

A Taqueria Is Replacing Short-Lived Italian Eatery Rosario - Eater DC

"Andrade’s working with an unnamed local partner to install a new Mexican eatery in the space and reopen it in the next two to three months." - Tierney Plumb

Jing Teng

Google

Went there on a Tuesday night without a reservation, was able to get a table. Noticed it got crowded very soon, it is a good idea to make a reservation. Food quality and taste are really good, I had a glass of Chianti wine which was awesome as well. Foos potion is very generous. The restaurant had a good vibe, there were a group friends for birthday celebrations, there were a few couples. Very relaxing atmosphere. Overall nice experience

Juan Ortiz Couder

Google

Okay so the food was great - flavor was incredible. The problem is that the portions were a bit small for the price. Service and ambiance was great.

Miriam Soliman

Google

We came here on a whim and the food was delicious! We ordered the octopus, salad, scallop risotto, bronzing fillet, parpadella with beef rib and the burata ravioli. My least favorite thing was the salad and the actual fish. However, the veggies the fish was on were fantastic. The weather was very nice so we sat outside and it was lovely!

Jen B

Google

Had a great date night here, the server was so nice & attentive, i didn’t catch her name i wish i did! We got there right before the dinner rush & sat inside. The baccala were to die for, ravioli were amazing, and the apple tart was divine! Also the focaccia was baked to perfection.

Susan Goubert

Google

Love the restaurant: laid back, communal seating give you a continual view of chef’s putting thoughtful creativity into each dish. We found restaurant last year in condé nast traveler & it was so memorable-we returned this year too. We had the tasting menu on both visits. The breadsticks are so good. I may have eaten too many & caution you to save room! Lastly-appreciated the display of Michael Jordan jerseys & shoes on walls. Super-cool for any MJ fan!

Tiffany Ingram

Google

This place is a great little Italian spot! We ordered two bottles of Prosecco along with the Fried Mozzarella with Truffle Oil and the Grilled Calamari. Both were very tasty! They also give you bread and oil to start with. For entrees we ordered the Gnocchi and Strozzapreti which was a pesto based sauce with shrimp. Both were absolutely delicious! The sauces were rich in flavor and the portions were generous! We topped off our dinner with two espresso martinis. They were good but didn’t need the cinnamon on top in my opinion. Our server was good but I don’t remember his name sadly. Overall, I will absolutely go back to dine here!

Chris C

Google

Authentic Italian taste & flavorful ingredients. A phenomenal low lit atmosphere with an amazing pasta menu. The Lasagna & Cavatelli were 2 fantastic dishes of choice recommended by the waiter. Service was attentive & friendly from beginning to end. Our waiter went above & beyond to ensure that we were always well attended and at the table. I highly recommend this establishment if you are seeking an intimate settings with a fabulous appetite for pasta..

Naina Azimov

Google

Absolutely delicious! Everything tasted fresh and delicious, highly recommend the ravioli.

Rachel H.

Yelp

Seriously one of the best value and tastiest meals I've had in DC so far. I had the duck Taglierini and my guest had the Pappardelle Stewed Short Rib. His meat was fall-off-the-bone and smelled delicious. Mine was similarly tasty and the serving sizes were more than generous. The total cost for these dishes after 20% tip was $70.20. Service was quick. We were seated without a reservation (Tuesday night around 6) quickly. The restaurant was fairly empty. It was just 10-12 minutes from our order to its delivery. Moderate noise from the street and other diners, but still quiet enough to have a private conversation. I would take a business meeting here again.

Felipe F.

Yelp

Fun Place Al Tiramisu and Retrobettaga have the best Italian Cuisine in Dc..................................................................................

Jackie V.

Yelp

Passed by this restaurant but never thought to stop in. Amazing Italian food! We loved the pappardelle, prosciutto with melon, and caprese salad. Flavors were rich and yummy. Portions were big and we thought very fairly priced. The bread they brought out was delicious and such a surprise. The space isn't super accessible bathrooms are down steps and inside is high tables or bar seating. There is an upstairs but you must go upstairs. There is an outside patio. The restaurant got busy at 6:45!

Kimberly S.

Yelp

They left me wanting nothing! Amazing food!! Cute ambiance. Ambiance - It was small and intimate. They has outdoor seating, as well as a second floor where you could see the kitchen. Food - Some of the best Italian food I've ever had, to include NYC and Italy! For real!! GET THE PAPPARDELLE WITH SHORT RIBS!! The lasagna is also INSANE!! Service - Started off slow, but once we got flowing, it was good to go. Our water glasses stayed full, and we didn't wait long for the food. Overall, absolutely yes!! That's all I have to say. MIC DROP!!

Mandy L.

Yelp

Came here for dinner Pros: - The bruschetta was delicious - loved the fresh pesto with the baby heirloom tomatoes on one and the sausage on the other (felt like I was eating two different dishes but they went well together) - I did not enjoy their version of the squid ink pasta (more watery than I'm used to) so didn't eat much of it but the staff noticed my untouched plate and comped the dish at the end - The sauce on the pappardelle ran watery but the flavor was on point - Molten lava cake was delicious Cons: - The tables are are seated very close to one another so not a lot of space - Ambiance was also a bit too loud to hear each other speak

Mark J.

Yelp

We went to this restaurant on a Monday night. The restaurant was not too busy, a couple tables were filled. Sat in the second floor where we had a view of the kitchen. The restaurant had dim lighting as well. We started with the complimentary bread and the olive oil dip. For appetizer we ordered the Arancini after seeing good reviews online. Crispy on the outside, and the filling was yummy as well. We then got two pastas: the Pappardelle Beef Short Rib pasta and the Taglierini pasta. The first few bites of the short rib were tender but later bites were a little more dry and tougher to chew, but overall the pasta was yummy. The Taglierini was also good overall - the pasta was more on the al dente side, and the sauce complimented the duck well.

Taylor D.

Yelp

Loved the food here. The complimentary focaccia was SO tasty and when warm even better! The olive oil won't balsamic vinegar had a unique spice with the addition of the red pepper flakes, LOVED it. And the scallop risotto was phenomenal. I also tried my friend's Bronzino and love the smokiness of the dish as well. Overall love how this spot is open late and it's perfect for a meal when out on the Adams Morgan strip.

Rose F.

Yelp

Very good bread and food and excellent service at the bar. The bartender was very friendly with customers and made drinks promptly. I would recommend this location for a solo diner. It was also a pleasant atmosphere. When I went they opened up the patio doors so guests could look outside even if they were not sitting in the outdoor area. The happy hour specials are just okay here, slightly discounted house wine and beer. They could do a little more to draw in that crowd because they do have a nice selection of wines, beers and italian cocktails available.

Will M.

Yelp

Really good Italian food in admo at a very reasonable price for dc. Service was very attentive and there was good music playing at a perfect volume. Beef short rib over pasta had great meat flavors. Pasta was super fresh. Gnocchi was also really good. Almost had a country gravy taste to it (in a great way). Portions were a good size for a trendy dc restaurant.

Maria S.

Yelp

In the very heart of AdamsMorgan, this italian restaurant offers a nice glimpse of italian recipes and wine. The environment was cute, although, sitting upstairs in front of the kitchen, the athmosphere was sort of smoky despite the attempts at clearing the air with some venitilators as ceiling lamps. Service was welcoming and made sure we were doing ok with our orders, but we felt a lot of pressure to be done and leave, as they were a little too quick at clearing the table and bringing us the check, even if we weren't done with our wine, yet. I would definitely suggest finding some balance between the restaurant's need to clear space and the customers' need to enjoy their time while eating. Food was good, the selselection of plates is rather typical and authentic, although I would have appreciated daring a little more with the complexity of the flavors. :) I would probably come here again, but maybe for happy hour (only at the bar) and snacks, instead of a full dinner.

Priya D.

Yelp

Best Italian restaurant in Adams Morgan!! I came here twice in one week because i couldn't get enough! The food is so delicious, fresh, and authentic! The staff is nice and attentive. The first time I came, the staff seemed to rush us a bit but it was a busy Saturday night. The second time I came was a Tuesday evening and our waiter was amazing! She was so patient which was appreciated since we were a big group. The first time i came I had the ravioli which was delicious! The portion sizes are decent and very filling! The second time i came i had the pappardelle and WOW! This dish blew me away! I loved it so much! The warm bread and olive oil to start was also very yummy and a perfect start to the meal! The restaurant is small and gives a very homey vibe. Cannot wait to come back and enjoy the rest of the menu!

Sammy W.

Yelp

I loved everything about my experience here! The service was fantastic; our server was Ariana and she was the best, so sweet & checked in with us a lot & made great suggestions for us! The drinks, apps & entrees were delicious. Everything came out in a reasonable time frame (not too quick, not too long). The wait staff kept our water glasses full & even continually dropped off glasses of ice because we asked for it at the beginning of dinner! They also played several TTPD songs which was so fun! :)

Tashara R.

Yelp

RETROBOTTEGA 2435 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 I want to preface this review by saying my boyfriend & I are not picky eaters at all and this review isn't meant to bash a small business. The purpose of this review is just to be transparent! WHAT WE ORDERED Penicillina- 10/10! This is a drink with rye & ginger beer. Super refreshing and is not spirit forward. Arrosticini- 9/10. This was grilled lamb skewers. They were cooked perfectly and very flavorful without doing too much. Mushroom Pappardelle- 4/10. Very bland dish, though the mushrooms were flavorful. Scallop Risotto- 1/10. My boyfriend said the risotto was not good, though the scallops were cooked perfectly. (He sent this dish back, and he never sends back anything ) PARKING- 3/10. There are garages in the area and sparse street parking. It's in Adams's Morgan though so you can't expect much with parking. ATMOSPHERE- 7/10. Very cute aesthetic & thoughtfully decorated. Though, It was very loud in there it's like you have to yell to have a conversation. Also, the tables are tiny you can barely fit 2 dishes on them. CUSTOMER SERVICE- 9/10. Our server was great, though our food came out extremely slow. However our server was very apologetic and gave us complimentary tiramisu due to us sending back a dish and having slow service.

Jamil M.

Yelp

Food was delicious and authentic. Free focaccia to start. Arancini was fantastic. I got the pappardelle short rib and my boyfriend got the lasagna. Both were amazing. The meat fell off the rib. Our server, Kate, was fantastic and gave us extra focaccia to take home since they had leftover. Super affordable too. Will absolutely be back!

Aman A.

Yelp

We had heard a lot of good things about this place online, and while it was lively and packed on a Saturday night, Retrobottega was regrettably disappointing. The service was good despite being very busy; things came out quickly and staff were attentive enough. But the food was just... lacking seasoning? And I'm usually pretty easy to please at these nice restaurants. The bucatini had a carbonara sauce that was begging for black pepper -- it was as if they forgot to add it. And the short rib pappardelle was begging for salt; both the sauce and the short rib. I will say that the portion of short rib they gave us was massive though! Other than that, free bread is a nice plus these days, and the arancini was good but we didn't really taste/see much meat at all. Worth $10 tho. Let me be clear, the food was not bad by any means, and I ate every bite. But I've never gone out in DC and thought the food was lacking salt and black pepper. Between all the other great Italian spots in DC, I unfortunately am unlikely to return here.

Crystal G.

Yelp

Cute wine bar with tapas style menu, perfect for a date night. We stopped in while visiting DC. We had a light dinner at the bar. Everything was high quality, fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. Service was also good. I highly recommend the octopus.

Daniel R.

Yelp

WOW! This small AdMo restaurant absolutely blew me away. From start to finish, it was an easy 5-star meal. Let's start with the end. This restaurant has the BEST tiramisu I have ever tasted. Each bite was perfection. The flavors could not have been more expertly balanced. Wow! You can't miss this one. Our charcuterie board was heavenly. I loved the taleggio and blu di Capra, which went wonderfully with the accompaniments. Our entrees were stellar as well. The cavatelli was hearty perfection, the ideal pasta dish for a cold evening. I was in heaven! Service was prompt and friendly. The interior is also so cute! You may walk right past this restaurant, but I encourage you not to. You won't regret it!

Quenton B.

Yelp

Got there right at the 10pm and they said the kitchen closed at 10pm; the restaurant closes at 11pm. I also tried calling well before 10am but no one answered. These restaurants need to stop doing this; I drove all the way from VA. I solution may be for restaurants to post on their website if the kitchen closes earlier. The server did ask something hence my 3 stars.

Carrie M.

Yelp

Great vibe! Delicious food! Friendly servers. Our favorite restaurant while visiting Washington DC.

Anna X.

Yelp

Loved our experience here tonight! Service, food, and ambiance were all 5/5. We started out with free focaccia bread that was soft and warm. For my entree I ordered the seafood pasta that came with plenty of fresh seafood and delicious squid ink pasta. It was flavorful without being overly salty or oily. The service was great as well. Our food came out quickly and our server always made sure our waters were filled. Would definitely return.

Antoninette B.

Yelp

we had a wonderful dinner here! the vibe of the place is adorable and perfect for a date night. it's kind of small on the inside so i'd recommend making a reservation. we sat at the bar and our bartender was lovely! she was great to chat with and makes wonderful drinks. the Retro Spritz and Espresso Martini were my favorite! to eat we got the Bruschetta, one came with pesto and tomatoes and the other with sausage and cheese. both were great! we also got the Spaghetti (which came with clams and tomatoes) and the Ravioli (filled with cheese and topped with a vodka sauce). the Spaghetti was fantastic, the sauce was wonderful and came with like 10 clams. the Ravioli was also great, the vodka sauce was on the sweeter side but the cheese filling was really good! overall it's a super cute spot with really great food and service; i can't wait to go back!

Jose M C.

Yelp

The good: the service. She was great, and recommended a wine we loved which was really appreciated. The bad (and soggy): the food. There are certain foods that if you don't make them on the spot you shouldn't even have them on the menu. The fried artichoke for example.... This tasted like it was microwaved, it was this awful soggy affair nothing like what it's supposed to feel like when you bite it. Same thing for the arancini. If Whole Foods has better arancini then you should not be serving that in your restaurant. The lasagna was an excuse to overload with cheese, it was difficult to taste anything else. I hear it has oxtail meat apparently. The ugly: the check. I expect better quality at this price point.

Karen S.

Yelp

Pretty good pasta spot in Adams Morgan! We had a reservation for a large party on a Saturday and had no issues getting seated right away. The restaurant itself is pretty small, but we enjoyed the vibes, and the open air. Although we sat in the back, it didn't feel stuffy. Service was also pretty good. Started off with some complimentary focaccia bread and it was AMAZING. The bread and the olive oil - so so good! Ordered the taglierini and enjoyed how tender the duck was. Everyone loved their meal and the prices are pretty fair for a nicer Italian sit-down.

Maggie A.

Yelp

Wow! How in all the years of living near Adams Morgan did I miss going to Retrobottega? Such a cute, cozy Italian place. My sister was craving Italian, and while we would normally go to Al Volo Osteria around the corner, she specifically wanted a seafood pasta. Really glad we went here. I ordered the oxtail lasagna - hefty and satisfying. The tiramisu was pillowy soft. This is a great spot for a small group of friends or a date night.

Ashley C.

Yelp

Such a great spot! Sat at the bar top. The bartender Jer was super helpful and provided some great recommendations. I ordered the squid salad and the squid ink pasta and omg. Both were so amazing!! I happened to be there during happy hour too and my wine glasses were only $8 a glass! Plenty of seating at the bar top and seats around the restaurant for dinner service. Felt very welcomed here and service was the best. If you're in the area, definitely stop by! Casual vibe and not too fancy feeling.

Carolina S.

Yelp

Stopped in randomly for a late night dinner after some holiday bar hopping and was pleasantly surprised by the food and staff! Both were really great and I plan on coming back here. We sat at the bar and it was perfect. We started with a couple of drinks and then each had a pasta dish so delish!

Elissa D.

Yelp

Had the pasta with rabbit. Really delicious. It had a really unique flavor. We sat outside and it was a little cold, but they brought us a heater.

Lauren F.

Yelp

I had a really solid meal at Retrobottega! The fried artichoke hearts were fantastic, and I would come back again for them and to order more of the cicchetti (the rosticciana looked great!). The sauce was great, the texture was perfect, and it was just lovely. I'm limited on what pasta I can have, but I really enjoyed the cavatelli, which is served with Fava beans (I wanted a lot more, actually!) and rabbit. Portions were generous and I was easily able to split the dish with a friend. I'd never had rabbit, and it was good but definitely not my favorite meat compared to other options. The broth it was served in was lovely and flavorful, but I would have liked something with a bit more texture so it could coat the cavatelli. The dish was very light and seemed great for spring! I would definitely come back to try more dishes. Service was great, and I appreciate any spot that still serves house bread. Definitely recommend checking them out, especially for the cicchetti.

Amanda H.

Yelp

Amazingly fresh pasta made by hand. The restaurant is a bit small and cramped but the food here is delicious. I really liked the short rib pasta and my friends liked the squid ink pasta and clam pasta.

Sarah M.

Yelp

I visited DC during cherry blossom season, and my friend made a reservation here because it's one of his favorite local spots. We sat outside on the covered patio and the food was delicious. Our Drinks came out relatively quickly, but meals took a second. The main con to note was that the bathrooms were clogged and there were some major plumbing issues. We had to go next door, which wasn't the most well-received by that manager. Hopefully the plumbing will be fixed soon because otherwise, a delicious restaurant. Reservations recommended.

Michelle V.

Yelp

AMAZING spot for drinks and food! We spilt a bottle of wine and shared 2 apps and an entree. The service was also great and we enjoyed the vibes of the whole place. 100% would eat here again.

Zoe B.

Yelp

Everything was delicious. That focaccia bread basket?! In love. Only critique was that the wait time between food and appetizer was a bit long. Will definitely be back.

Hannah H.

Yelp

Retrobottega offers Italian fare, but they also host pop-up events, live music, and have HH specials. I had this place for a very long time, and I was excited to check this place out with a friend - we knew that they were popular for their apps, but we also ordered some entrees to share: +Bruschetta - a crostino with baby heirloom tomatoes, basil, and balsamic, and a crostino with homemade sausage and Taleggio; this was good, but kind of hard to share, as it's difficult to cut; will need to consume quickly, as the crostino can get soggy +Charred Octopus - with cannellini beans, grape tomatoes, and pistachio romesco; wasn't a fan of the cannellini beans, but the octopus was grilled well and was tender +Bucatini - with guanciale, sharp pecorino, black pepper, and egg yolk; definitely on the saltier end with the guacialo and the pecorino; pasta could have been more al dente +Ravioli - with a burrata filling and dressed in a vodka sauce; the vodka sauce was creamy; the filling could have been more inside the ravioli +Pappardelle Beef Short Rib - prepared with beef short ribs and beef stock; pasta was slightly gummy; the beef rib was large and it was definitely a presentation in its own right! Service was friendly, and the place was cute and cozy - I really liked the tile flooring. Limited street parking available in the area. +cute decor +friendly service +limited street parking available

Ellen E.

Yelp

Such a joy. Six of us each had something wonderful--including one gluten-free vegetarian. My gnocchi was perfect. We sat in the covered space out by the street while it rained gently. The service was attentive, smooth, and masterful.

Shelby P.

Yelp

Really enjoyed everything about this place. The menu was awesome and had some really unique items. I wanted to try everything! I got the lasagna and the clam spaghetti. Reheated the next day and still wonderful. I will always have an infinite love as well for places that give free bread and have great service. He was very accommodating and really took time to explain the menu and make us feel comfortable. The only reason for the 4 stars is the meat in the lasagna I felt was a bit lacking in flavor.

Audrey R.

Yelp

I think I'd eat any form of cooked pasta (like if you use more than 3 ingredients I'm like WOW GORDON RAMSEY) but I think even I can point out this was quality Italian foood - the pasta was an al dente that perfectly chewy and thick - the collection of seafood in the lighter white wine sauce complimented the dense carb aspect of the meal - the bread they give you in the beginning is decent but using it to soak up the extra pasta sauce was elite - gin n tonic was pretty strong and average so I'd recommend hitting this place for food or whatever aperol spritz drink the woman the table over from me had - many many other appetizers and mains I want to try so yes I'll be back - outdoor seating was cute but on a hot day it wasn't exactly pleasant and the inside is small so a good seat (they dooo exist) not almost in the kitchen is rare even with a reservation so id say it's best to call to make a specific rezzy

Radha P.

Yelp

Probably some of the best Italian food I have had in a while. Started off with focaccia bread and it was warm and fluffy. The olive oil was nicely flavored. The fried mozzarella was equally delicious. Warm and fresh and underneath was a tangly tomato sauce. The manicotti was fine. The spinach and ricotta stuffy was smooth and flavorful. The waiter was very nicely and adjusted to our dietary restrictions. Plenty of seating, good music and well lit.

Kyle T.

Yelp

A group of 5 of us tried Retrobotegga before seeing a show in AdMo. We all ordered different entrees with the express intent of trying each one because there are so many things on the menu that make you say "oh that sounds good!" And nothing disappointed. While we did find ourselves looking around for our server once or twice, he also did a good job of timing drinks, apps, and entrees.

Jessica O.

Yelp

One of the best meals that I have had in a really long time. Retrobottega is worth the visit! For our appetizer we got their charred octopus. Amazing! The octopus was very fresh and the greens complimented the dish very well. They brought out a basket of bread made in house. The bread was excellent! I got their house white wine. This paired really well with all the seafood that we ordered. For my main course I got the Chitarra. My husband ordered the Strozzapreti. OMG the Chitarra was to die for. This was my first time having a dish with squid ink pasta and it went so well with all the seafood that was in the dish. I am also really impressed with Retrobottega that they did not skimp out on the seafood! There was some much seafood you could barely see the pasta when the dish came out. This dish consisted of clams, mussels, squid, shrimp, and fish. Everything was so fresh and flavorful!! My husband's food was spectacular too. Super fresh and flavorful as well. He loved it so much that he used the bread to scoop up all the remaining sauce haha. Besides the food I loved the atmosphere. Great for a date night inside. They have muted lighting with exposed brick. They have an open kitchen so you can see the chefs hard at working making sure each dish comes out perfectly. You know the food standards are going to be much better at a place that chooses to have an open kitchen. They have outside seating as well. The music! Whoever was in charge of the playlist on Jan 1st was only playing bangers. Loved it! The staff were attentive and helpful. Thanks Retrobottega for the great time. I will recommend this place first to anyone who is searching for a good Italian restaurant.

Smrithi B.

Yelp

Retrobegga is a small restaurant in Adams Morgan. They have a great selection of pastas that are vegetarian friendly. The dinner starts off with delicious focaccia, which tasted amazing. Even during my meal, I kept snacking on it. My table got the mushroom pappardelle and the ravioli. The ravioli was amazing; the sauce was complex. The restaurant itself is fairly small in size. My table was upstairs (where the kitchen is), so it got a bit more warm than you would expect. The staff is amazing! It unexpectedly started downpouring as we were leaving. They recommended we sit at the bar and brought us water as we waited. I really appreciate them thinking of us even after the meal

Pranjal S.

Yelp

Food was sooo delish! Absolutely 10/10! Place was a little small though, so tables are quite close to each other. Slightly limited seating and noisy but the food is well worth it! Great drinks here too!

Rebecca C.

Yelp

Visited the restaurant for a birthday dinner last night, party of 13 I believe. We were sat upstairs next to the kitchen. Pretty cool to see the kitchen crank the food out for the entire restaurant. I didn't catch our servers name, he wasn't as attentive as you think a server would be for such a large party. Drink selection was ok, large bar if you don't see anything on the menu. Wine selection was good too. For dinner I chose the fish of the day which came with saffron risotto and a lemon butter sauce, the octopus, and the baccala (bacalao/cod fish) fritters. The server kept doing this cough and not covering his mouth which was off putting. Esp in these times.

Thomas V.

Yelp

Wow! I don't usually go for Italian restaurants because it can be very expensive for the high quality authentic stuff, but this place was incredible and all for a reasonable price. I got the burrata caprese and scallop risotto and they were the best I've had in recent memory. Not to mention the servers were very attentive and everything came out very quickly. The inside section is very small but has a classic and cool vibe. Overall, will definitely be coming back again

Stephanie C.

Yelp

I came here with work colleagues tonight and everyone agreed it was a delicious dinner! We thought the bruschetta appetizer was very tasty. I had the scallops risotto for dinner and the risotto was perfectly cooked. The space was nice and the server was friendly. Oh, and everyone enjoyed their drinks as well!

Lauren R.

Yelp

The hubby and I came here for our anniversary and would definitely come back again! It's in AdMo and could be easily overlooked. It's small but cute! We sat upstairs right next to the kitchen so it was cool seeing them in action! We were given some bread and olive oil to start with. The olive oil was of great quality. We ordered the Burrata Caprese, Carciofi (fried artichokes), Ravioli, and the Pappardelle. ALL of it was delicious. Their entire menu sounded good - it's just a matter of what you're in the mood for! The artichokes were probably my favorite. It only comes with 2 pieces so definitely plan on ordering more for a larger group! The only downside was how hot it was. We went around 7pm but it was 95 degrees out that day and it didn't help that we were upstairs. Will definitely come back in the fall!!

Zack B.

Yelp

If you're in the area and looking for solid Italian food, Retrobottega is a great choice. I liked being able to make reservations online, even in the fully enclosed street tables too. Our waiter was courteous and accommodating, and made good recommendations. He was very familiar with the menu as well, and never seemed to judge me *too* hard for ordering multiple waves of their delicious house focaccia bread and olive oil. We started with several cheeses, which are a flat rate of $7 each. You get quite a bit of cheese, which is delicious spread on crostini or the house bread. When it was time to order entrees, I went with the pappardelle with beef short rib. It was both visually stunning -- with it's large bone-in short rib -- and delicious.

Leah C.

Yelp

Retrobottega is absolutely delightful!! This is a smaller restaurant, and quite popular, so RSVP ahead if possible. We were sat almost immediately, and enjoyed our spot out on the patio. We made it in time for happy hour, and enjoyed our wine for 8$ (and heavy pours). We had a few appetizers, like the burrata caprese (so good, with fresh pesto at the bottom) and arancini (only two but large and filling). We did order the calamari- FYI it is NOT fried, but they are pretty clear on the menu about this. We also tore through a few baskets of the fresh bread. For dinner, I had the Pappardelle short rib. WOW. The meat fell right off the bone, and the sauce was rich. It was a generous portion and I honestly don't know if I could bring myself to order anything else off the menu in the future, since I loved it so much! I love this quaint little Italian spot and can't wait to come back.

Alissa T.

Yelp

Loved this quaint Italian restaurant! We were running quite late to our reservation and called to inform the restaurant and they kindly held our table for us, which we really appreciated. It is a pretty small space but it is charming and our server was wonderful. My friend and I each got a glass of the house red wine which was a generous pour for the price. For entrees we had the short rib beef Pappardelle and the Strozzapreti (pesto, tomato, shrimp based dish). The pasta I believe is all homemade in house at the restaurant and you can definitely tell. Both entrees were delicious and I absolutely LOVED the short rib Pappardelle. It was a pretty generous portion as well - a ton of meat, right on the bone. I enjoyed it so much that it would be hard choosing another pasta dish next time, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the pastas. Definitely a solid spot and would for sure return again!

Anna M.

Yelp

3.5 The apps were delicious - burrata caprese with pesto, we also ordered arancini and carciofi (fried artichoke hearts), delicious but we dug in before I could snap a pic. The risotto was the best dish of the night. Two of us got the short rib pappardelle, the meat was tender and fell right off the bone. Pasta was cooked well-enough, but the sauce was very watery which kind of took away from the whole dish. The ambiance feels cozy, but it's a small place so it's quite loud. Service was good up until closing time - then we were a bit forgotten about as we tried to pay our tab, but the bartender quickly noticed and jumped in to take care of us.

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